Statistics Authority rebukes Tory MP Nick Hurd over census comments

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The statistics watchdog has rebuked a Conservative spokesman for making “ill-founded” remarks on the questions to be included in the next census.

Sir Michael Scholar criticised Nick Hurd, the Shadow Minister for Charities, for describing some of the questions as “invasive and intrusive” and claiming that they had been devised by government ministers.

It is the first time that Sir Michael, chairman of the UK Statistics Authority, has reprimanded the Conservatives.

Mr Hurd claimed that the 2011 census showed that Labour wanted to snoop on people’s sleeping arrangements because for the first time the public will be asked to provide